UW tries to regroup with Kobe King out for season and D'Mitrik Trice out indefinitely

UW's Khalil Iverson (left) has played well at times, but the UW staff is looking for more consistency from him and others as the Badgers adjust to losing Kobe King and D'Mitrik Trice to injuries.(Photo: Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)Buy Photo

Beginning with their game Nov. 20 against Baylor in the Hall of Fame Classic and ending with their game Saturday against Marquette, the Badgers played nine games and held 11 practices in a span of 20 days.

With King and Trice recovering from their respective surgeries Monday, UW coach Greg Gard and his assistants began evaluating a new rotation.

The starters were the same five who opened against Marquette – guards Brad Davison, Khalil Iverson and Brevin Pritzl and forwards Ethan Happ and Aleem Ford.

The top four reserves were forwards Nate Reuvers and Andy Van Vliet and guards Walt McGrory and T.J. Schlundt.

Junior forwards Charlie Thomas and Alex Illikainen, who have combined to play just 81 minutes, were on the scout team. Their roles are to be determined by matchups.

Van Vliet started UW’s first four games but lost his spot in the rotation because his effort on defense and on the glass was lacking. He grabbed a total of two rebounds in a combined 22 minutes in his final two starts.

Before returning to the top unit Monday, Van Vliet was told to focus on defense and rebounding and the points would come naturally.

“He’s got to make sure he does everything on the defensive end – blocking out, guarding the post,” Moore said. “And be in a position where you can go get a rebound, going to the boards offensively.

“It is all of the things that may not show up in the stat sheet. But it is the physical part of the game that he’s got to make sure he covers."

McGrory, 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, is a walk-on from Edina (Minn.) High School. He hasn’t played this season but likely will be needed because of the lack of depth at point guard.

“I’ve been working all year and if they need me I’m ready to go,” said McGrory, who had scholarship offers from Drake and South Dakota State. “I think I am a guy who can come in and know his role, be solid. Not turn over the ball and hit open shots. Just run the offense and keep guys together.”

UW will need contributions from up and down the lineup to make a push back to the .500 mark and avoid an ugly Big Ten season.

Iverson (7.4 points per game, 4.4 rebounds per game) and Pritzl (6.7, 3.0) are players to watch because both possess the potential to perform better than they have.

Consistency has been an issue for both.

Iverson struggled to defend or score in the Big Ten opener, an 83-58 loss to Ohio State. He played just eight minutes in the first half and missed all five of his shots. He started the second half on the bench as Gard went with Pritzl instead and played a total of 12 minutes.

“Khalil got taken out of the game and he wasn’t too happy about it and he kind of shut down,” Trice said. “He wasn’t with us mentally.

“After the game, some of the players said: ‘We need you. You’re a big part of this team.’ "

Iverson responded with an outstanding game at Penn State: 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

“I took that and ran with it,” Iverson said of his teammates’ comments. “I’m kind of the X-factor on the team. Those energy plays that I bring get us going.”

Iverson wasn’t as efficient in losses to Temple and Marquette. He hit 6 of 14 shots and combined for 15 points and nine rebounds in the back-to-back losses.

Pritzl was outstanding at Penn State (six points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal in 21 minutes) but ineffective against Temple and up and down against Marquette. Pritzl acknowledged he needs to do a better job staying engaged mentally during his time on the floor.

UW assistant Dean Oliver, in his first season on the staff, is working with Pritzl in that area.

"The mental toughness part has gotten better but he has to take another step in that direction where nothing can faze him," Oliver said. "There are just times where he is letting his guard down. And those moments, especially when we don’t have bodies, we just can’t afford them."

Beginning with a Western Kentucky team that defeated Purdue earlier this season, UW is home for five games in a span of 21 days. Being at home, with more time to practice, can't hurt.

"It is a chance to recover and recuperate," Moore said. "We can get our mojo back a little. I think they see that coming."